2 Sisters Killed In Hamptons Fire Laid To Rest: 'We Are Shattered'

NOYAC, NY — Broken-hearted family and friends gathered Monday for the funeral of two sisters who died in a tragic fire while visiting the Hamptons from Maryland on vacation. Although their faces were streaked with tears and sometimes, it was difficult to speak, those who shared memories shed light on the girls who'd touched thousands of hearts in their short lives.

The funeral was livestreamed from the Washington Hebrew Congregation, where Jillian and Lindsay Wiener's father Lewis is president.

Just as in life, the two sisters were side by side, their coffins covered with blankets depicting their respective colleges.

Jillian, 21, and Lindsay, 19, were remembered with joy for the years of love they'd shared with so many.

Rabbi Susan Shankman began by saying all gathered had been "summoned to this place and this moment by a tragedy beyond our control and understanding. We did not choose this but we have a choice in how we respond even to the unimaginable. Today we respond with love and gratitude in the face of our unspeakable loss and sorrow. . choose to embrace the life, beauty and joy these two beautiful souls brought to us."

The funeral was marked by deep emotion as young people, new to such abject grief and dressed in black, wrapped their arms around one another for strength. Friends from Camp Seneca Lake read a poem; Rabbi Shankman shared memories of the girls.

"We each have a story, many stories," she said. The sisters loved their family and they loved each other. "They were a duo that just worked."

From mani pedis to brunch, running errands and taking the train to New York City together, the sisters shared an unbreakable bond with one another and their brother Zach. The rabbi said their mother Alisa told her she was proud of her daughters, both activists, fighting for what was right.

Jillian was known for her adventurous spirit and Lindsay, for her effervescence, all agreed. "They both loved vacations and traveling the world, celebrating the good stuff, laughing and loving each other," Shankman said.

Jillian was independent and strong and planned to focus on environmental science. She blossomed at a semester spent in Turks and Caicos, "doing her thing with rocks, as Lew described it," Shankman said. "She had a smile brighter than the sun, beaming with love for the ocean, the beach, tanning, yoga, the environment."

Her family said they were pretty sure her love of the environment was born with her favorite movie, "Finding Nemo" and her penchant for the character Mr. Ray in the "Sing" movies.

Jillian, Shankman said, "took care of business without fanfare. . she was nonchalant about her academic honors, telling her father only, 'I've got smarticle particles.'" And, she said, Jillian was tough. When an injury sidelined her from hockey, which she loved and which defined her, she turned to yoga. She loved art and while discerning, gave those she loved her full devotion. Not only adventurous, she was "goofy," Shankman said Zach told her.

Lindsay was remembered as being diligent, always advocating for herself with strength, and a caring soul who loved birthdays and celebrations and did everything she could to make those days special for the ones she loved — including the Wiener family tradition of cake and candy in the morning on birthdays, as well as balloons.

"Lindsay was a breath of fresh air," the rabbi said. To her friends, she was considerate and thoughtful. She and Zach shared the same sense of humor, he said, and was also deeply devoted to her faith and to stamping out anti-Semitism.

A poem written by Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman read, "God must be crying too," she said.

The Wiener family, Shankman said, asked that all present continue to talk about their girls, to share stories and memories.

Sammy London remembered her friend Lindsay, especially the time they joined the junior varsity basketball team, mostly to spend time together, and not to play the game. Once, when the. team was up, the "bench warmers" got their "10 minutes of glory and Lindsay took a three-pointer shot. In perfect Lindsay spirit, the shot went in," she said. "That was the only five minutes she played the entire season and the crowd went crazy. Lindsay's successes were everyone's successes. She had the kindest, most radiant soul in the world."

Although numb and lost, London said she finds comfort in knowing her friend touched more people in 19 years than most do in a lifetime.

"She shined brighter than anyone I know and she's surely given me enough laughter and love to carry me through," London said.

Jillian's friend Brittany Hunter could barely speak through her sobs. "You always told me how proud you were of me," she said. "You made me feel I was worthy of a place in this world. I want you to know, forever, that I am proud of you, for how many lives you've touched."

The West family, longtime neighbors of the Wieners, stood in front of those gathered, their arms wrapped around one another as son Eli spoke of a lifetime friendship marked by shared dinners, summers at camp, trips to Target and Staples, snow days and movies and cherished memories — and a friendship that has only grown stronger as the years passed. Both families had three children, two girls and one boy, each, and two sets of parents, he said.

"We always left each other with plans for next time," he said. "We never had any reason to think there wouldn't be a next time."

Of his friend Lindsay, he recalled hours spent outside and Halloweens holding her candy bag, which she always said was too heavy. "I had you and you had me," he said. "And that's how we planned to do life."

Zach hugged his father for a long moment before walking up to speak, resting his hands on the coffins of his sisters. "Thank you for making me a big brother," he said. "Being your older brother is what I am and forever will be most proud of."

He recalled "the joy I took at scaring your prom dates, or jokingly telling you to put on more layers of clothes when you went out." He remembered the hysterical laughter, the inside jokes, the shared conversations. "Our connection went so much deeper than just siblings," he said. "You two are my best friends, and each of you was my person."

He added: "The pain in my heart and my longing for you two has no bounds but I've been able to find comfort in knowing you two have each other and are holding hands, just like I've been holding Mom's and Dad's."

To Lindsay, he said he was sorry for the times he was grumpy and refused to go for a ride. "I'd give anything or one more ride with you."

Zach spoke to each of his sisters, telling them how much they meant to him.

Lew then spoke of his daughters. "We are shattered. Our hearts are broken." His family finds great comfort, he said, in the outpouring of support from the community.

To Jillian, he said, "You are my bottle of 2000 Bordeaux, the vintage of the century." He described her tough inner spirit and brilliant smile, and an understanding they shared.

"Lindsay," he said, "You are my bottle of champagne. Pop the cork, baby, we're having a party!" He described Lindsay as resourceful and effervescent, her bright plans for a future in New York City.

The night of the "horrific fire," he said, they'd all shared a great dinner and before going to sleep he'd gone to the room where all were watching a movie. "Lindsay, I asked you to stand up and give me a hug. . .You did, followed by a kiss on the cheek. You told me you loved me. I asked Jillian to stand up and I got a hug, and kissed your cheek. I told you I loved you and you told me you loved me. I will always have the blessing of knowing the last thing we said to each other was, 'I love you.'" he said. "I will always feel the warmth of those hugs."

The girls were asleep in the home when the fire broke out.

According to Southampton Town Police, Lewis Wiener, 60, his wife Alisa, 52, and his son Zachary, 23, as well as his daughters, were vacationing from Potomac, Maryland. The children were sleeping on the second floor at 3:35 a.m., when the fire broke out, and the parents were sleeping on the first floor; Lewis Weiner awakened to the sound of glass breaking and screamed for his family to get out, police said.

He and his wife escaped the burning home, police said. When they realized the children hadn't exited the house, Wiener tried desperately to gain entry back in; however, the flames prevented him from gaining access, police said. The couple's son Zachary had escaped by leaping out of a second-story window, police said.

"Tragically the two daughters were unable to escape," police said.

Both girls graduated from the Holton-Arms School for Girls in Bethesda, Maryland, the school said in a statement.

Holton-Arms school head Susanna A. Jones also issued a heartfelt statement: "It is with immense sadness that I write to share with you that Jillian '19 and Lindsay '21 Wiener passed away on Long Island in an early morning house fire. . . As much of the Holton community can attest, the sisters were warm, engaged members of the Holton community who positively impacted both their classes and the larger school community."

Jillian was a soccer and ice hockey player as well as an artist, and her passions were yoga and community service, Jones said. "A certified yoga instructor, Jillian taught yoga classes to younger students during her senior project. Jillian also devoted hours of her time to raising awareness and funds for families whose children have cancer."

Lindsay, she added, "was a bright spirit and a leader, who was also dedicated to service, particularly getting young people involved in politics and generally promoting volunteerism. As president of the Community Service Club during Covid, she found creative ways to encourage student engagement in service. As president of the Jewish Culture Club, she also did much to educate the community about Jewish religious traditions."

Jillian was headed into her senior year at the University of Michigan and Lindsay was returning to Tulane for her sophomore year, Jones said.

"Jillian and Lindsay's passing is a great loss to the Holton-Arms community and both will be deeply missed by their family, friends, and the school community," she said.

Lew Wiener added: "Do not define us by our loss, but by the blessing that was Jillian and Lindsay. . .Go home and hug your children."